Leonard Pearce

He was a key player in rationalising electricity supply in Britain and in the design of cleaner and more efficient power stations.

[2] In the early years of the twentieth century electricity supply was uncoordinated, with numerous small-scale local providers.

In 1916 the Board of Trade appointed Pearce to head a committee to review the provision of electricity in Lancashire and Cheshire.

For the latter, he worked with Sir Giles Scott, who designed the exterior of the building, and the architectural practice Halliday and Agate, who created spectacular Art Deco interiors.

[1] Because the power station was in central London Pearce was required to minimise the emissions; he devised a flue-washing plant to eliminate fumes.

[1] Battersea gained the top place among British power stations for thermal efficiency and economy of fuel consumption.

The great achievement of his life was in connection with the Battersea Power Station, as he was the designer of the engineering set-out of that worldfamous building.